FAQ SCALE SCORE PROFICIENCY-LEVEL RANGES The 2018 WY-TOPP results will be released to the public September 26, 2018. The results are based on new scale and performance-level cut scores determined by standard-setting panels on July 10-12, 2018. The standard-setting process addressed the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards for grades 3-10 in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics and grade 10 in Science. For grades 4 and 8 science, the 2014 scale and performance ranges remain in effect.

SCALE SCORE PROFICIENCY-LEVEL RANGES FOR GRADES 3-10 ENGLISH LANGAGE ARTS

Grade 3

Below Basic <563

Basic 564-591

Proficient 592-627

Advanced ≥628

4 <579 580-612 613-648 ≥649 5 <600 601-626 627-667 ≥668 6 <613 614-639 640-688 ≥689 7 <616 617-643 644-691 ≥692 8 <625 626-652 653-707 ≥708 9 <628 629-655 656-708 ≥709 10 <630 631-666 667-712 ≥713

SCALE SCORE PROFICIENCY-LEVEL RANGES FOR GRADES 3-10 MATHEMATICS

Grade Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced 3 <416 417-437 438-460 ≥461 4 <441 442-465 466-490 ≥491 5 <465 466-493 494-532 ≥533 6 <489 490-520 521-559 ≥560 7 <515 516-551 552-587 ≥588 8 <542 543-584 585-626 ≥627 9 <572 573-616 617-667 ≥668 10 <602 603-652 653-713 ≥714

SCALE SCORE PROFICIENCY-LEVEL RANGES FOR GRADES 4, 8, 10 SCIENCE

Grade 4

Below Basic <611

Basic 612-665

Proficient 666-725

Advanced ≥726

8 <605 606-653 654-713 ≥714 10 <610 611-643 644-692 ≥693

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detailed results, and educators are able to see each student’s response to questions. WY-TOPP interim assessments are available in grades K-10.

WHAT ARE THE MODULAR ASSESSMENTS?Modular assessments are short classroom tests used by teachers to evaluate student progress at the end of a unit. Modulars are optional, divided by topics, and available on-demand in grades 1-10.

FAQ SCALE SCORE PROFICIENCY-LEVELRANGES HOW WERE THE CUT SCORES DETERMINED? From July 10–12, 2018, AIR facilitated standard-setting workshops for grades 3-10 in Englishlanguage arts (ELA) and mathematics and for grade 10 in science. The 84-member panel wascomposed of Wyoming teachers, curriculum specialists, education administrators, and other stakeholders. The members were selected from large and small Wyoming school districts, ensuring diverse perspectives throughout the standard-setting process.

The panelists used the Bookmark method, the most common procedure used throughout the country and for previous Wyoming assessments. Panelists were given a booklet of items ordered by level of difficulty. During the process, the panelists referenced the Wyoming College-and Career-Readiness Standards, the Performance-Level Descriptors (PLDs), and student performance data from the 2018 WY-TOPP Summative Assessment. The panelists bookmarked items representative of minimum performance of Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. There were multiple rounds of bookmarks and resolution during the three-day workshop.

The cut scores are used to determine the four performance levels - Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced.

WAS STUDENT INFORMATION FROM WYOMING STUDENTS USED TO SET CUT SCORES? Yes. Panelists reviewed student performance data from the Spring 2018 WY-TOPP Summative administration during each round of review in the bookmarking process.

WHY WAS SCIENCE GRADE 10 INCLUDED IN THE STANDARD-SETTING WORKSHOP AND NOT GRADES 4 AND 8? Wyoming standards in science grade 10 were assessed for the first time in 2018; therefore, standard setting was necessary to determine performance on the new Wyoming-specific science assessment. For grades 4 and 8 science, the 2014 scale and performance ranges remain in effect. The legacy science assessments will continue to be administered until full implementation of the 2016 Wyoming Science Content and Performance Standards in 2020.

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detailed results, and educators are able to see each student’s response to questions. WY-TOPP interim assessments are available in grades K-10.

WHAT ARE THE MODULAR ASSESSMENTS?Modular assessments are short classroom tests used by teachers to evaluate student progress at the end of a unit. Modulars are optional, divided by topics, and available on-demand in grades 1-10.

FAQ SCALE SCORE PROFICIENCY-LEVEL RANGES WHAT ROLE DID WRITING PLAY IN HOW CUT SCORES WERE DETERMINED FOR ELA? ELA cut scores were set using the overall scaled score for each test at each grade level. Because writing is assessed in grade 3, 5, 7, and 9, ELA panelists reviewed student responses to writing prompts from the 2018 assessment to determine overall ELA cut scores for those grades. Performance-level cut scores were not set for individual reporting categories; therefore, there is no cut score for writing only.

WHEN VIEWING SUMMATIVE RESULTS, WHY ARE THERE ONLY THREE PERFORMANCE LEVELS FOR THE REPORTING CATEGORIES? The cut scores were used to determine four performance levels - Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. These cut scores were set based on the overall score, not each individual reporting category. Reporting categories are classified into three levels of achievement estimates - Below Standard, At/Near Standard, Above Standard. Reporting categories have fewer items leading to a larger standard error of measure compared to overall scaled scores.

WHAT ASSESSMENTS USE THE CUT SCORES SET DURING THE STANDARD-SETTING WORKSHOP? The WY-TOPP Summative and Interim assessments in grades 3 through 10 for ELA, math, and science use these cut scores. Achievement estimates based upon the Proficient cut score are used for Modular assessments. All cut scores will remain in effect until there is a change in the standards or the assessment. For example, the 2016 Wyoming Science Content and Performance Standards science assessments will be administered for the first time in 2020-21. After that administration, another standard-setting workshop will be held to set the cut scores for the new science test.

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